Parents 1st are pleased to announce our new Stretch and Relaxation group for pregnant and new parents in Southend.
Join us for 6 weeks of yoga. Suitable during pregnancy and after birth. (Please note: These groups are free for a trial period only).
Connect with your growing belly or baby with an hour of quiet bonding. Strengthen your body, improve your posture, and release tension through breathing, mindfulness and gentle low impact movement.
What to expect from our Stretch and Relaxation group:
Sessions will include 45 minutes of stretch and relaxation
Gentle, low-impact movement
Exercises to help strengthen your body and improve your posture
After the class, there’ll be 15 minutes of peer support and conversation
Be part of a supportive community of parents
No experience necessary. Mats provided. Just bring a water bottle, blanket for relaxation and any baby essentials if you’re bringing your baby.
We’re excited to invite you to upcoming Fundraising and Small Grants Workshops that are taking place across Essex as part of the Your Essex Community support offer.
This three-hour workshop is for voluntary and community organisations in Essex who want to enhance their income generation and fundraising plans and skills. You will learn about the latest trends in fundraising, different sources of income, with a specific focus on small grants under £20,000 including where to look for grant opportunities, and top tips on how to produce a successful application.
The workshop is enjoyable, informative, interactive, and an excellent opportunity to network with other similar organisations in the voluntary sector.
Whether you’re new to fundraising or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will help you strengthen your bids and maximise your impact.
We’re looking forward to coming together with our stakeholders to reflect on a year of empowering individuals.
We’ll be celebrating our achievements, discussing our challenges and looking ahead to the future of Renew.
Join us for:
-Keynote speech: ‘Neurodivergence & Mental Health’ Paula Farrow, CEO and Founder of MyOTAS (My Own Time and Space)
-Festive refreshments and performances
-Important governance updates
Please register your interest by Friday 14 November 2025
We’re pleased to share that the first Chelmsford Inclusive Dementia Cinema Screening will take place on Tuesday 9 December at Chelmsford Theatre, featuring the festive classic Miracle on 34th Street.
This relaxed and dementia-accessible screening is designed with people living with dementia, their families and carers in mind, creating a welcoming and comfortable environment to enjoy a film together.
About the Screening Doors will open at 12pm, with tea, coffee and cake available for a small donation. The film will begin at 1pm, with a short interval partway through for comfort and movement. The lights will be slightly raised, the volume gentle, and attendees are free to move around or talk if needed. Extra staff and clear signage will be in place to support a calm, friendly experience, and there is an accessible route into the studio.
Film:Miracle on 34th Street The holiday season begins when a warm, twinkle-eyed gentleman is hired as Macy’s store Santa and insists his real name is Kris Kringle. His presence brings kindness, joy, and a touch of Christmas magic to everyone he meets.
Dementia Accessible Cinema: Miracle on 34th Street – Chelmsford Theatre
Resource Tote Bags – Contributions Welcome The Chelmsford Inclusive Dementia Community Network is preparing 50 resource tote bags for attendees to take away. If your organisation can contribute service information, activity details, or small practical items that may support people living with dementia or their carers, these would be very welcome.
We’re excited to announce Beat Retreat – a free 10-week drumming Music Therapy programme designed specifically for carers living in the Braintree district. Delivered by Ace Music Therapy CIC and funded by Essex County Council, this group offers carers a chance to take time for themselves, connect with others, and experience the therapeutic benefits of rhythm and music.
Why Drumming?
Drumming is one of the oldest forms of music-making and has been shown to support both emotional and physical wellbeing. Many participants report benefits such as:
Improved mood and emotional release
Reduced stress and anxiety
Lowered blood pressure
Relief from tension and pain
Boosted immune function
This group offers a warm, supportive environment where carers can step away from daily responsibilities, unwind, and enjoy the shared energy of group music-making—no musical experience needed.
Session Details
When: Wednesdays, running until 3rd December Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Where: Earls Colne Village Hall, 12 York Rd, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2RN Cost: Free of charge
In September 2025, local Pitsea residents voted on a recycling/upcycling project in their local area. Creative Basildon are looking for an artist to create: “A programme of workshops/activities that target a range of ages and groups across the whole of Pitsea, within the theme of recycling/upcycling.”
We want you to interpret this as creatively as you can. We are interested in hearing about your previous projects that have focused on recycling/upcycling themes. This may look like upcycling workshops, a community clean up with musical performances, or it might explore the invisible waste of the digital age.
**A fixed fee will be paid for the work, not per person. If you are applying as a collective, it is your decision how the fee will be shared. This inclusive fee should be used for all artist and production fees (including but not limited to; planning, delivery, purchasing resources, marketing, administration and evaluation).
This is an exciting and varied role, and we are looking for a proactive post holder who will manage three key aspects of CARA’s service provision:
Manage new referrals into our service, overseeing the work of our team of First Contact Navigators and our Information and Referrals Co-ordinator.
Manage our counselling waiting lists and the allocation of clients to a counsellor, overseeing the work of our Allocations Team.
Act as the main lead and point of contact for managing CARA’s client database and resolving any data queries.
The role will lead a talented and committed team of six, supporting their work and assisting them to develop their key roles. As well as overseeing day-to-day operations of the team, the post holder will be part of CARA’s management team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in CARA’s wider development, working closely with CARA’s Senior Leadership Team and Team Managers.
Application deadline: 9am on Wednesday 26th November 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
Click here for Job Description and Person Specification.
Renew Counselling and Training, a local mental health charity, is offering a free online session for parents and carers on Wednesday 12 November from 12pm – 1pm.
Led by experienced therapist and CEO Nikki Schuster, the workshop explores practical ways to support young people in building a healthier relationship with their bodies and themselves.
Free to attend and open to all. A recording will also be available.
Warm Spaces in association with EFDC are delighted to invite local residents to join us at The Abbeyfield Society, Waltham Abbey (EN9 3DJ) for our Warm Places sessions.
As the colder months set in, everyone deserves a comfortable and welcoming space to relax, connect, and keep warm. Whether you’d like a friendly chat, a hot drink, or simply a cosy spot to unwind, our doors are open to all.
🕓 Opening Times
Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Thursday: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
🚗 Accessibility
Plenty of free parking is available onsite, making it easy for everyone to visit.
💛 Why Visit a Warm Space?
Warm Spaces provide more than just warmth — they’re a place to meet new people, share stories, and feel part of the community. We welcome all ages and backgrounds, and there’s no need to book in advance — just come along during opening hours.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
